Make International discount on Bouf

Make International is delighted and proud to be working with Bouf. They have a fantastic website which offers a top selection of gifts, fashion and homeware. With the festive season creeping ever closer now is the perfect time to get some early Christmas shopping done.

At Bouf you can find the wonderful Word Range, the Word Cookshop Range, the Punk range, everything is there! With work from legendary designer such as Keith Brymer Jones and Martin Wiscombe you can own top quality tableware at great prices!

 

This offer is limited in time so do not wait any longer! You will find our products on Bouf with a 25% discount! From gift mugs, to plates, to bowls, to jugs, Make International together with Bouf is proud to present a range of fantastic products at fantastic prices.

Potfest in the Park – The pottery fanatics paradise!

We are now in May which typically signals the start of the summer season. Some might say this is premature and far too overambitious. Perhaps it is, but fingers crossed it starts now.

Summertime’s in the UK have become pretty special. Families, couples and friends flock to beaches and parks all over the country. All we really want is the opportunity to feel like we are slap bang in the middle of the Mediterranean.

We have also rekindled somewhat of an obsession with Festivals. Live music really has become the staple of summer entertainment. Festivals like Glastonbury, T in the Park, Isle of Wight and Reading to name but some will entertain hundreds of thousands people in the UK. There are also thousands who will travel to Europe and even further to get their fix of their favourite band.

However, the summertime is also an opportunity for fanatics of arts other than music and exhibitions will be on show everywhere. If you so happen to be a fan or collector of tableware pottery or ceramics we have just the event to recommend for you – Potfest in the Park.

There will be over 100 exhibitors invited from all over Europe and beyond, all with very distinctive individual styles, all passionate about working with clay.

The venue, Hutton-in-the-Forest, is a cultural destination in itself with its walled garden, topiary terraces and woodland walks. The homeware ceramics and pottery festival takes place in and around marquees in front of the castle, with the potters competition pieces on the lawn, next to ancient architecture and modern ceramics.

Hutton-in-the-Forest lies 5 miles northwest of Penrith, Cumbria on the edge of the stunningly beautiful Lake District National Park, which is well worth a visit itself.

Each year a special tent is dedicated to a different Continental pottery town. Last year 6 potters from Hohr-Grenzhausen in Germany were invited. This year’s special guests are from the association des Potiers Createurs de Puisaye from St Amand-en-Puisaye in central France.

The Hohr-Grenzhausen area was famous for its salt glazed stoneware whereas t he Puisaye region sits on a vast bed of stoneware clay and is in a heavily wooded area – hence the predominence of wood-fired stoneware.

For pottery enthusiasts this is the perfect festival in an area of incredible natural beauty. The Lake Distric National Park is arguably the finest piece of natural beauty in the UK, the perfect venue to display some of the finest pottery and ceramics the UK and Europe has to offer.

Potfest in the Park 2010 – July 30th /31st /August 1st
Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday …10am – 5pm daily

Adults £5. Accompanied children free. Free parking

Please be aware that many of the exhibitors are unable to process credit card transactions, and the nearest cash machines are six miles away in Penrith.

Make International featured at Spirit of Summer Fair

The Spirit of Summer Fair is a great opportunity for you to get into the swing of things for the coming summer months, with food, fashion, homeware, crafts, flowers all under one roof.

Whether you want to get ready for summer parties and barbecues, this is the perfect location to feel inspired and invigorated by the anticipation of the hotter weather and lighter evenings.

After a couple of disappointing summers the public really does have its fingers crossed for the perfect summer, which this year would be, regular sunshine and England winning the World Cup.

However well or badly we do, the World Cup brings a country together, united by a common cause to avoid going to penalties with any other team whatsoever and barbequing whenever possible.

Spirit of Summer Fair

London Olympia is home to the Spirit of Summer Fair once more for 2010, featuring super stylish summer shopping boutiques, with everything you could need for a long hot summer. This year the fair brings together the best of this season’s fashion, gifts, gourmet food and wine.

Homeware and tableware by Make International will be on show with a number of exhibitors including ‘Cape Henley’, ‘Delicious Home’ and ‘Heart and Parcel’. We are delighted that they will be sharing some our products will everyone at the event and we hope that all exhibitors and visitors have a great few days.

Summer food and wine

The classic cuisine for summer is of course the picnic, and the 2010 Spirit of Summer Fair you can sample the delights of Mossimann’s, as they combine a fresh and seasonal menu with excellent wines and Champagne. The Food Hall will also whet your appetite for the summer with fantastic ingredients for your parties and picnics.

Get into the spirit

Throughout the weekend of the fair, Spirit of Summer Fair workshops offer you the chance to learn new skills or brush up on old ones. Lead by experts in their field, you can get inspiration on alfresco dining, create flower arrangements, try out cocktail making or indulge in Champagne tasting.

Essential Information

Dates
13 – 16 May 2010

Location
Grand Hall, Olympia Exhibition Centre, Kensington, W14 8UX

Where to find Make International products:
Cape Henley – Stand Number C22
Delicious Home – Stand Number C38
Heart and Parcel – Stand Number E56

Opening Times
Thursday 13 May 10am – 6pm
Friday 14 May 10am – 6pm
Saturday 15 May 10am – 6pm
Sunday 16 May 10am – 5pm

Booking line – 0844 412 4623

In addition there are Premium tickets available. For more details please click here

Egg cups make it to the shortlist for Gift of the year!

We are absolutely delighted to announce that one of our products has been shortlisted as a potential winner of The Giftware Association Gift of the year.

The egg cups are beautifully designed by Keith Brymer Jones and forms part of the extensive ‘The Word range’, which has a very clean and relatively minimalist design throughout.

Having a set of egg cups which are always asking the question ‘What came first, the chicken or the egg’ will always make yours breakfast thought provoking. But equally important is the functionality of the egg cup, because if you have ever tried to eat toasted soldiers without an egg cup it is a nightmare, and a guaranteed way to ruin your morning eggs.

For some however the business of egg cups is a very serious matter. The humble egg cup is actually a collectible item which has its own term – Pocillovy – which derives from the Latin pocillum for small cup and ovi for eggs.

There are newsletters for egg cup collectors from “Eggcup Collectors’ Corner” in the U.S. and, “Egg Cup International Club” in UK. There are also egg cup conventions for collectors here in the UK, with some antique egg cups being valued and going on to sell at auction for hundreds of pounds.

There may be a good explanation as to why there is such a fondness for egg cups around the world. Many children growing up are introduced to something we call ‘toasted soldiers’. If you are not sure what that is, the picture should answer your questions.

Hopefully it is clear that eating this meal as a child was great fun and if you think back you might even remember the very egg cup you used as a child, which is why many associate egg cups with childhoods.

In addition, egg cups actually go way back! An early silver egg cup was found in the ruins of Pompeii! In Europe, the egg cup has been used since at least the 15^th century as part of breakfast, which technically makes it much older than the ‘full English breakfast’, which is actually heavily influenced by America and really exploded in popularity after the Second World War.

Healthy junk food does exist!

At a young age, we learn that to grow up big and strong you have to eat your greens. Turns out pop-eye was right all along!

Unfortunately, for many people there is no pleasure in doing this whatsoever, which means it doesn’t happen, even if you have to bribe your own children with gifts it can still be tough!

However what if we told you that there is food out there which you might typically categorize as junk food, but is in fact healthy! And hopefully the kids won’t smash the designer tableware in disappointment.

In all seriousness, the following foods are not bad for you!

1) Popcorn

This humble cinema snack could prevent cancer and help dieters.

A study presented last August to the American Chemical Society suggests the real health benefits could lie more in its ‘surprisingly large’ polyphenol content, antioxidants thought to mop up free radicals, the potentially damaging chemicals that cause diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Next time you are sat at home watching a DVD with your big bowl of homemade popcorn, enjoy it. After all it’s healthy!

WARNING: You will immediately negate any health benefit of popcorn by overloading with salt or sugar!

2) Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is one of the richest sources of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.  It’s also low in saturated fat and an excellent source of protein to keep you feeling full for longer, fibre for bowel health and foliate which can protect against colon cancer and heart disease.

The nuts are thought to help reduce inflammation in the body and boost the health of blood vessels around the heart. In fact, Harvard Medical School researchers recently reported that snacking on peanut butter five days a week can nearly halve the risk of a heart attack.

3) Baked Beans

For many British people Heinz Baked Bean is a national institution. They were first launched in 1886 and have been with us ever since. They are a key element of a traditional English fry up and other dishes such as baked potato and beans.

The humble baked bean is a nutritional powerhouse of protein, fibre, iron and calcium. Its combination of high protein, which also keeps your muscles and bones healthy, and low-GI carbohydrates, which release their energy slowly, keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Tinned baked beans can be quite high in sugar and fat so we recommend that you choose the low sugar, low salt varieties.

4) Russet Potatoes

A Russet potato contains more potassium than a banana, which helps prevent high blood pressure, is a great source of soluble fibre which helps maintain bowel and heart health, and has no fat or cholesterol. In fact, one baked, medium Russet has only 135 calories and around a fifth of your recommended daily intake of protein and fibre.

A U.S. study which compared the antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables found that the Russet potato had a total antioxidant capacity of 13.2, ranking higher than carrot, kiwi, watermelon, cantaloupe, radish and even tomato.

Frying the potatoes or drowning them in butter or cream will not do you any favours. Boiled, mashed, or roasted is your best bet.

5) Pork Scratching

The bar snack we all want to have but are too embarrassed to ask for is actually packed with goodness.

Two-thirds of all its fat is actually mono and polyunsaturated fats, beneficial for heart health, with 13 per cent of its fat coming from stearic acid, a type of saturated fat that doesn’t raise cholesterol levels.

One 20g bag contains 2g more protein than an egg, or about a fifth of your recommended daily allowance. They also have very little sugar and just 0.3g carbohydrates in a packet.

The main health concern is its salt content, so moderate your consumption.

6) Nutella

Mum and Dad, you can now feed your child Nutella with a clear conscious because it contains lecithin, a soy extract that is high in protein, calcium and iron, protecting your bones, boosting energy and helping you feel full for longer, says dietician Dr Sonia Kakar.

‘It’s also lower in calories than many jams, is lower-Gi for slower-release energy and contains calcium from skimmed milk for healthy bones.’

‘Nutella is high in sugar and fat, so intake should be moderated,’ Dr Kakar says

7) Cheddar Cheese

Cheese provides 25 per cent of the calcium in the British diet, according to the British nutrition Foundation.

Cheddar also contains a large amount of other essential nutrients such as phosphorous for strong teeth and bones, zinc for healthy skin, a strong immune system and fertility, riboflavin and vitamin B12 for energy and vitamin A for healthy skin and eyes.

A cube of cheddar after a meal will neutralise the acids in your mouth and increase saliva production to aid food clearance, both of which help prevent tooth decay.

But its high fat content means eat in moderation.

How to repair chipped or cracked porcelain and ceramics

If you are considering throwing out that gorgeous porcelain vase or any other tableware because of its chips and cracks, don’t! Many porcelain problems can be easily repaired at home with an epoxy glue or porcelain enamel to match the piece.

Things you’ll need:

• Porcelain enamel kit
• Ice lolly stick
• Rice
• Plastic cup
• Small brush
• Toothpick or cotton swab
• Epoxy glue
• Large basin
• Hair Dryer

Instructions

Step 1 – If the porcelain is wet, dry the surface thoroughly with a hair dryer

Step 2 – Following the package’s directions, mix the 2 parts of epoxy glue (it comes in a kit with 2 tubes) in the tray that’s included or in a disposable cup. Then follow these steps, as appropriate:

For Chips

Step 1 – Apply the epoxy glue to the back of the chipped piece using a toothpick or cotton swab

Step 2 – Place the piece in its original position, taking care to line up the broken edges

Step 3 – Hold piece in place for thirty seconds

For Cracks

Step 1 – Apply porcelain enamel over the cracked area with a small brush, a toothpick or an eye-shadow applicator until the crack is filled. You can buy porcelain enamel kits at art supply stores

Step 2 – Smooth the surface with and ice lolly stick

Step 3 – Let it dry for 24 hours

Step 4 – One coat of enamel will leave an uneven finish, so you’ll want to apply several coats

For more serious damage

Step 1 – If the item is broken into 2 or more pieces, set it in a large basin or box filled with dry rice or beans after applying epoxy glue. The rice or beans will hold the item in place while it dries

Step 2 – If the porcelain is priceless, hire a professional ceramic restorer to repair it. Ask for a reference at an antiques shop or search the yellow pages or Internet under “antique repair and restoration”

Step 3 – If your porcelain treasure is beyond repair, consider giving it new life as a mosaic. Use your treasured porcelain pieces to mosaic a picture frame, a mirror or an outdoor tile. Visit an art supply store to purchase mosaic supplies

2010 – A year for home improvement

Election uncertainty and talk of a double dip in the economy has done nothing to suppress the optimism of British home owners – according to a GB wide YouGov survey carried out this month, almost half of those homeowners surveyed revealed they are planning home investments in 2010.

Almost half of the home owner respondents 48% confirmed their intention to invest in their homes this year whilst over a third of those homeowners questioned 41% stated that adding value to their home would be the reason behind any home investments.

Jace Tyrrell of the New West End Company, which represents over 600 retailers on Bond, Oxford and Regent Street said that “Home retail took a hammering last year, with sales of furniture and home accessories falling off a cliff face for some retailers. Our survey highlights this, with 41% (excluding those that said “don’t know”) of homeowner respondents admitting to having put decorating and buying new furniture and tableware on hold due to the recession.

‘’2010 has shown some incredibly positive home sales and this survey of over 2,000 respondents from across the GB provided some startling results. However, despite the bullish results of the survey, retailers are very much aware that shoppers to the high street need to be wooed and given added value for every pound they spend.”

In the build up to the May Bank Holiday, the first ever West End Home Week is launching next week involving retailers such as Anthropologie, Debenhams, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Liberty, Marks and Spencer and Selfridges.

Shoppers to London’s West End will enjoy a full week of discounts on homeware, exhibitions offering inspiration for budding home designers and exclusive in-store lectures by top home designers, who will advise on trends and valuable updates for the home.

Paul Mitchell, Store Manager at the Oxford Street, House of Fraser, stated that “As shoppers look to invest in their homes over the coming year, we want to respond to the current appetite for home design. West End Home Week is ideally timed to offers shoppers a fantastic selection of homeware, advice on how to improve their homes and inspiration for those looking to update”.

Other findings of the West End Home Week survey showed that 38% of the homeowners surveyed believe that renovating their bathroom will add the most financial value to their property. Others however argue that a loft conversion will add more value.

Dated beige bathroom sets and lino floor tiles are out, with homeowners realising a luxurious, modern bathroom can update the feel of the whole property and therefore provide more bang for their buck.